I don’t really have a listening post this evening. Well, I do. But it’s the same as they have been for awhile. So why subject anyone else to my rut? I’m just listening to German conductor Gunter Wand (1912-2002), North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor. I’ve encountered Maestro … [Read more…]
My listening post this evening is with another kombucha to my right, John Suchet’s book Beethoven: The Man Revealed to my left, and in the background is Season 1, Episode 3 (“Sally and the Lab Technician”) of the fantastic Dick Van Dyke Show – for my money, the best-written, best acted TV series of all … [Read more…]
My listening post this evening is in the living room, with House, M.D. (Season 8 Episode 19 – “The C Word“) on TV, tree and trimmings glowing joyfully, and American conductor Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), Wiener Philharmoniker and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor in my ears. Before I go any further, I’m going to … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is in front of our Christmas tree, overlooking a frozen lake. To my left is a mug of coffee and – in my 5-CD changer – are the first five Jefferson Starship albums turned down low, like the music would be in a restaurant. To my right is a notepad … [Read more…]
My listening post this afternoon is in front of the Christmas tree (now fully decked out) overlooking a snow-covered lake on December 5th, 2018. The temperature outside is 29 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s -1.6 Celsius for all you non-U.S. citizens). I have no idea what the temperature is inside. But I guarantee it’s not 29 degrees … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is nowhere special. What I’m hoping is special is this performance from German conductor Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989), Berliner Philharmoniker, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F major. I encountered Maestro Karajan’s legendary 1977 cycle seven times previously, on… Day 11. Rating: “Meh!” Day 29. Rating: “Huzzah!” Day 47. Rating: … [Read more…]
This morning, my listening post is the cafeteria of a local grocery store chain, a Starbucks Blonde Roast (“That’ll be a pour over. Is that okay?”) and a blueberry muffin (“It’s good warmed up a little”) on my right. Nothing but a sunny day streaming in on my left. The sun. Wow. What is that … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is with the classic 1954 holiday movie White Christmas (the first movie filmed in VistaVision) in the background, this year’s Christmas tree (as yet undecorated) on my right, a fresh sliced avocado on the table beside me on my right, a cup of fresh-brewed coffee on my left, and German … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is New Beginnings Restaurant, an hour after it opened. It’s empty in here because of the snow storm we had overnight. We only got about two or three inches. But it’s icy, and this is the first major winter storm of the season. So all schools are closed, and drivers … [Read more…]
With the 1960s folk band The Seekers playing in the background, a cup of Trader Joe’s Light Roast coffee beside me, and Judith Durham‘s dulcet tones in my ears – at least, before I pop in my earbuds, at which time Argentine conductor Daniel Barenboim (1942- ), Staatskapelle Berlin, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in … [Read more…]